The Quest for the Crown of Thorns by Cynthia Ripley Miller - #bookspotlight #blogtour

I am delighted to be shining the spotlight on this book today. Quest for the Crown of Thorns is second book in the Long-Hair sagas. You can find the first book in the series, On the Edge of Sunrise by clicking here.

The Blurb

AD 454. Three years after the Roman victory over Attila the Hun at Catalaunum, Arria Felix and Garic the Frank are married and enjoying life on Garic’s farm in northern Gaul (France). Their happy life is interrupted when a cryptic message arrives from Arria’s father, the esteemed Senator Felix, calling them to Rome. At Arria’s insistence, but against Garic’s better judgment, they leave at once.

 On their arrival at Villa Solis, they are confronted with a brutal murder and a dangerous mission. The fate of a profound and sacred object—Christ’s Crown of Thorns—rests in their hands. They must carry the holy relic to the safety of Constantinople, away from a corrupt emperor and old enemies determined to steal it for their own gain. But a greater force arises against them—a secret cult who will commit any atrocity to capture the Crown. All the while, the gruesome murder and the conspiracy behind it haunt Arria’s thoughts.  

 Arria and Garic’s marital bonds are tested but forged as they partner together to fulfill one of history’s most challenging missions, The Quest for the Crown of Thorns.

Book Details

ISBN: 978 1634925525

Publisher: Book Locker

Formats: e-book and paperback

No. of Pages: 278 (paperback) 

Series: Book 2 in the Long Hair Saga series

Purchase Links

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the Author

Cynthia Ripley Miller is a first-generation Italian-American writer with a love for history, languages, and books. She has lived in Europe and traveled worldwide, holds two degrees, and taught history and English. Her short fiction has appeared in the anthology Summer Tapestry, at Orchard Press Mysteries.com, and The Scriptor.

She is a Chanticleer International Chatelaine Award finalist with awards from Circle of Books: Rings of Honor and The Coffee Pot Book Club. She has reviewed for UNRV Roman History, and blogs at Historical Happenings and Oddities: A Distant Focus and on her website.

Cynthia is the author of On the Edge of Sunrise, The Quest for the Crown of Thorns, and A Sword Among Ravens, books 1-3 in her Long-Hair Saga series set in Late Ancient Rome, France, and Jerusalem. Cynthia lives outside of Chicago with her family and a cute but bossy cat. 

You can also find Cynthia at:

Author Website

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(media courtesy of The Coffee Pot Book Club)

(all opinions are my own)

A Theory in Vienna by Heidi Gallacher - #bookreview #blogtour

‘I bring to light a truth, which was unknown for many centuries with direful results for the human race.’ – Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis. 

The Blurb

 Imagine you’d discovered something. Something that could save hundreds of thousands of lives. But they wouldn’t let you tell anyone. Wouldn’t it drive you mad?

 Young Hungarian doctor Ignaz Semmelweis uncovers the real reason thousands of young women are dying after childbirth. Yet, in mid-19th century Europe, his simple methods are ridiculed. Semmelweis faces the battle of his life to convince others that the cause is simple…

 Based on the true story of a forgotten hero, A Theory in Vienna brings the remarkable story of this man to life.

My Review

Based on true events, this is the remarkable story of Ignaz Semmelweis, an unsung hero of the 19th century.

Semmelweis was a young doctor who was appalled by the high mortality rate of mothers and their babies who died from puerperal fever when in the doctors' lying-in ward. By contrast, those who delivered their babies on the midwives' ward were far more likely to survive.

Semmelweis made it his life's work – first discovering the cause and then trying to convince other doctors that they needed to implement his rigorous methods of hygiene. To the modern eye, his theory seems like nothing more than common sense; however, he had to battle ferociously to get the medical profession to take him seriously. Unfortunately, he was battling against the egos of experienced doctors who weren't willing to make changes to their practice.

I could feel Semmelweis's frustration oozing from the page and the author did a great job in portraying this. He was an ordinary man whose conviction in discovering the cause of such high mortality rates was second to none. He was a determined individual who became known as The Mothers' Saviour.

There are descriptions of the historical background in both Hungary and Austria - in itself a period of political uncertainty and  upheaval. The descriptions are vivid and tangible.

This was an interesting novel that I am very glad to have read. Medical practices that we take for granted in our present age are thanks to this man – perhaps even for life itself. I knew nothing of him prior to reading this book and I heartily encourage you to read this book for yourselves. 

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1835743072

Publisher:  The Book Guild Ltd

Formats:  e-book and paperback

No. of Pages:  320 (paperback)

Purchase Links

Bookshop.org

The Book Guild

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the Author

Heidi was born in London in the Sixties. She grew up in South Wales, UK and moved to Paris as a young adult where she taught English for two years. She currently lives in Switzerland and recently completed an MA in Creative Writing.

Her first short story was published in Prima magazine (UK) in 2018. Heidi now writes historical fiction. Her first novel, Rebecca’s Choice is set in Tredelerch – an old house in Wales that belonged to her family generations ago. This novel won an award from The Coffee Pot Book Club in 2020, Debut Novel Bronze Medal. 

Her second novel, A Theory in Vienna, is set in 19th century Vienna and Budapest. It tells the incredible story of unsung hero Ignaz Semmelweis, whose life-saving discovery was ridiculed at the time.

Heidi enjoys travelling (the further North the better!), singing and writing songs, and spending time reading and writing at her Swiss chalet where the views are amazing. 

You can also find Heidi at:

Authors Page at The Book Guild

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(ARC and media courtesy of The Coffee Pot Book Club)

(all opinions are my own)

(Bookshop.org affiliated)

The Dutch Muse by Heidi Eljarbo - #bookspotlight #blogtour

 

I am delighted to be shining the spotlight on this book today. The Dutch Muse by Heidi Eljarbo is part of the Fabiola Bennett Mystery series. 

Heidi is not a newcomer to the blog.  She kindly did a guest post in 2023 when she spoke about her novel, The London Forgery. Her book, The Paris Portrait also featured as a spotlight post last year. You can read both of those posts by clicking on the links.

I am equally excited about this spotlight post too. Enjoy!

The Blurb

A ruthless thief leaves a private Dutch gallery with a coveted seventeenth-century painting. The owner lies unconscious on the floor. Art historian Fabiola Bennett is on vacation in Holland and takes on the case.

Amsterdam, 1973 - It’s late summer, and Fabiola and Pippa join their friend, Cary, for a few days of sightseeing, museums, and riding bikes around the beautiful city.

For the first time in her life, Fabiola feels a pang of jealousy, and rude comments from a gallerist make her doubt her own abilities.

Then, unexpectedly, Cary’s Dutch client, Lennard van de Hoek, is brutally struck down and a baroque portrait by Ferdinand Bol is stolen. Fabiola pushes aside her problems and jumps into danger without hesitation. The list of suspects is long, and with a cold-blooded criminal at large, they must constantly be on the alert.

Amsterdam, 1641 - Ferdinand Bol has completed his five-year training with Master Rembrandt van Rijn and is ready to set up his own studio. The future looks bright, and Ferdinand sets a goal to become a widely sought-after and, hopefully, prosperous master portraitist.

Just when Ferdinand’s career starts to flourish—and patrons and customers discover his exceptional talent—one of his models confesses she’s in deep trouble, and he drops everything to help her.

This is a fast-paced and captivating who-done-it set in the Netherlands—the fourth installment and a spin-off from the Soli Hansen Mysteries.

Book Details

ISBN:  979 8284991565

Publisher:  Independently Published

Formats:  e-book and paperback (currently available on Kindle Unlimited)

No. of Pages:  268 (paperback)

Purchase Links

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the Author

HEIDI ELJARBO grew up in a home full of books, artwork, and happy creativity. She is the author of historical novels filled with courage, hope, mystery, adventure, and sweet romance during challenging times. She’s been named a master of dual timelines and often writes about strong-willed women of past centuries.

After living in Canada, six US states, Japan, Switzerland, and Austria, Heidi now calls Norway home. She lives with her husband on a charming island and enjoys walking in any kind of weather, hugging her grandchildren, and has a passion for art and history. 

Her family’s chosen retreat is a mountain cabin, where they hike in the summer and ski the vast white terrain during winter.

Heidi’s favorites are her family, God's beautiful nature, and the word whimsical.

You can also find Heidi at:

Author Website

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(all media courtesy of The Coffee Pot Book Club)

(all opinions are my own)